Apparatus for beaching seaplanes



May 1, 1956 H. ca. COOPER ETAL APPARATUS FOR BEACHING SEAPLANES 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1950 HENRY 6. COOPER ME I? TON h. DICKINSONFiled May 17, 1950 H. G. COOPER ET AL APPARATUS FOR BEACHING SEAPLANES 3Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1956 H. ca. COOPER ETAL 2,743,697

APPARATUS FOR BEACHING SEAPLANES Filed May 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 60F G, 5 F 6. 7

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gwuq/wtow HENRY GI COOPER ME RTON H. DICKINSON United States PatentAPPARATUS FOR REACHING SEAPLANES Henry Gibbons Cooper, United StatesNavy, and Merton Hough Dickinson, Fairfield, Conn.

. Application May 17, 1950, Serial No. 162,572

Claims. (Cl. 114--230) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) This invention relates to apparatus for beaching seaplanes, andmore particularly to apparatus in which a buoyed cable is utilized tolimit and prescribe the motion of the plane while its own propellers areurging it forward, in a manner to guide the plane to a desired positionwith respect to a cradle car.

Prior art devices are characterized by a number of limitations anddisadvantages. When a boat is employed to take a line to a seaplane sothat the plane may be swung into position for beaching, considerabletime is required, as well as the services of a relatively large crew.The use of conventional beaching gear results in one highly stressedsection of the airplane supporting or carrying the entire weight of theplane. Loading and unloading passengers and cargo is difficult andhazardous.

The apparatus described in the patent issued to Arthur Gouge for FlyingBoat Base, No. 2,399,483, issued April 30, 1949, wherein a pickup cableextends between the dock and a breakwater, the cable having stops atspaced intervals to cooperate with a hook or like pickup device attachedto the plane, for drawing the plane to the dock, does not provide asufiiciently positive guiding motion to permit the use of a cradle carand the use of a cradle car is not contemplated. Furthermore, Gougesinvention contemplates the use of an additional tail cable and winch forheading the plane in the desired direction.

The instant invention, however, provides for positive and precisepositioning of the plane, under the joint con trol of the planespropellers and the winches on the docks, for setting the plane upon acradle car.

According to a preferred embodiment of apparatus suitable for practicingthe invention, a cable is stretched between two buoys which may belocated a convenient distance apart, such for example, as 50 feet, andconnected at the ends thereof to power winches located upon the dock.Floats may be attached to the cable to keep it near the surface of thewater, and as the plane taxies between buoys, a hook attached to thebottom of the plane engages the cable, thereby slowing and ultimatelystopping the motion of the plane. While the propellers are still turningthe forward motion of the plane is controlled by means of the powerwinches attached to the ends of the cable, thereby steering the planeinto finger piers, whereupon a beach cable is secured to the snubbingpost of the plane, and the plane moved into position above a crade orpickup car.

Accordingly, an object is to provide new and improved apparatus forbeaching a seaplane.

Another object is to provide new and improved apparatus for beaching aseaplane in a minimum of time and with a relatively small crew.

Still another object is to provide new and improved cradle and pickupcar apparatus for use in beaching a seaplane.

A further object is to provide new and improved cable attaching orconnecting apparatus for use in beaching a seaplane.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved side mountbracket for use in conjunction with a cradle car for beaching aseaplane.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the following specification, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a suitable pier arrangement;

Fig. 2 is a general side elevational view in which is shown theseaplane, cradle and ramp cars, and track;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the cradle car, showing the position ofthe seaplane when supported therein;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the mounting bracket;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the seaplane supported in thecradle car;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a suitable railway layout;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a seaplane;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged end view of the cable hook; and

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view of the cable hook mechanism axiallythereof, showing in particularity the releasing device for the cable.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of theinvention, in which like reference characters are used throughout todesignate like parts, and in particular to Fig. 1 thereof, there isshown a seaplane which may be of any convenient or conventional designand generally designated by the reference numeral 10, but whichpreferably has a bottom or keel arrangement similar to that shown inFig. 7, in which there is a small step of, for example, six inches at63.

A pair of. mooring buoys 15 and 16, Fig. 1, are positioned apart aconvenient distance, such for example as 50 feet, and preferablysubstantially parallel to the shore line 35. The buoys 15 and 16 haveattached thereto by cables or wires 17 and 18 respectively the pulleys19 and 2 0 respectively. A cable 25 is extended between these pulleys,and thence the ends of the cable are attached to rotating or take upspool members 13 and 14 of winches 11 and 12 respectively, located uponthe dock.

Substantially midway between the buoys 15 and 16 and the lengths ofcable shown may be located finger piers 32 and 33 preferably having rowsof pneumatic fenders 34 along the insides thereof.

It is understood that a marine railway is to be located between thefinger piers, not shown in Fig. 1 for convenience and clarity ofillustration, but shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

Rails 44 are mounted upon supports on ties 45 positioned upon thesloping trestle or framework generally designated at 46, and whichpreferably has a 10:1 slope i. e., for each ten units of horizontallymeasured length there is one unit of vertically measured lengthdeviation from the horizontal plane whence measurement commenced.

A ramp car generally designated at 41, having small front wheels 42 andlarger rear wheels 43, is mounted upon the track, and has the stop 38secured to the rear thereof. A cradle car, generally designated by thereference numeral 36 and having wheels 37 adapted to fit theaforementioned track, may sit upon the ramp car. The sides of the cradlecar may conveniently comprise upright post supports 49 and a horizontalbar or support member 60 upon which are mounted at spaced intervals, thepneumatic side fenders 50 for riding up the sides of the fuselage whenthe cradle is spotted under it and for cushioning the seaplane when itrests in the cradle car.

A pick-up cable hook mechanism, generally designated by the referencenumeral 64, Fig. 7, is attached to the keel of the. seaplane, preferablya predetermined distance back of the aforementioned step 63, forexample, 22 inches.

The hook mechanism is shown in greater detail in Fi gs. 8 and 9, and ispresently to be more fully described. The position. offthe hook. maycorrespond substantially to that of point 21, Fig. 1, which issubstantially the pivot point of the seaplane.

It; will be understood; that before the seaplane lands, the cable 25 isstretched between pulleys 19 and 20, preferably in azsubstantiallystraight line. The seaplane after landinguponthewater taxies between thebuoys l and 16, where. the hook.6.4 engages the cable 25, and may moveit to the position shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter, by manipulatingthewinches. 11' and 12 with the propellers running-,the. plane mayconveniently be moved into position betweenthe finger piers over thepick-up car, whereupon. the motors-may be cut and the towing cable orbridle 23 attached to the ship, one portion of the bridle beingalreadyattached. to; the pick-up car.

Attached to the sides of the plane at spaced intervals are mountingbrackets 47, Fig. 2, which, when the plane is cradled. in thecradle car,rest upon the horizontal bars 60. In Fig; 3is showndiagrammatically thebody of the plane supported in the cradle car; the brackets 47 supportthe plane, while the pneumatic cushions 50 prevent undesired impactsbetween car'and plane.

In Fig. 4 is shown in detail amounting bracket. Preferably. the sidewalls:54 of the plane have a row of curved apertures 55therein. Themounting bracket 47 includes a curved extended end portion 56 adapted tobe inserted securely in the aperture 55. Attached to the wall of theplane are brackets57 which, in cooperation with pin 58, hold themounting brackets 47 securely in place.

When the seaplane has been securely positioned in the cradle car, it maybe moved'by the operation of winch l2, spool 26, fixed pulley 24,andicradle 23 to any desired position upon the track, within the wateror out, for loading or unloading and for maintenance.

A convenient railway layout for use with the instant invention is shownin Fig. 6, the ramp track 44 being extended intoi the fiat beach track95, switch 88 providing for moving the plane by way of connecting railsection 62 and switch 87, from the beaching railway to launching railway61.

Particular reference is made now to Figs. 8 and 9 in which are showndetails of the hook mechanism 64. A reinforcing plate member 71' ispreferably provided on the heel of the plane, upon which the hookmechanism is mounted by any suitable means, not shown. Extended supportportions 69 and' 70'support or have formed integral therewithacylindrical portion 66 having a bore or cylindrical aperture 76 thereinin which is disposed the hook holding and releasing member 67. A hook 68is pivoted for rotation about pin 89, Fig. 9, and while member'67 isin'the position shown, hook 68 is maintained in the position whereat itengages and holds the afore mentioned cable 25'. When member 67 iswithdrawn into bore or chamber 76, in a manner presently to bedescribed, hook 68' is moved by the tension on cable 25 back until itoccupies a position in aperture or chamber 90, in which position cable25 slips off the hook, and thereafter does not restrain the forwardmotion of the seaplane.

Member 67 is normally maintained in the position shown,Fig; 9, by actionofspring 72, which may encircle the small arm or extended portion 73,and which abuts against shoulder 80, and also against the end 74 oflocking member 75 which is threaded into the threaded end of bore 76. IMember 73 has attached thereto, as by pin 78, a connecting link 77, towhich rope or cord is attached at 79. When cord 65 is pulled, member 67is moved back, releasing cable 25. Rope 65 may conveniently extend intoa port in the side of the seaplane, as shown in Fig. 7.

It is accordingly seen that anapparatus well suited for practicing themethod of the invention is herein provided. In the practice of themethod of the invention, the plane to be beached may taxi between buoys15 and 16, engaging cable 25 by hook 68. Thereafter, by selectivelytaking up or slackening up on the ends of cable 25 at winches 11 and 12,the plane 10, with its propellers running, may be guided into positionbetween finger piers 32 and 33. Thereafter, a towing bridle or cable 23may be attached to the nose of the plane, and to the pick-up car, Fig.2. The car 36 may be then moved to a position whereat its sides extendabove the surface ofthe'watenand the plane precisely located above car36 by proper adjustment of the lengths of the two portions of thebridle. Car 36 and plane 10 are then moved forward together until therests or brackets 47 attached to the side of theplane rest upon bars 69.When the cars and plane have reached the top of the incline, car 36 maybe run onto the fiat track 95, and plane 10 moved to any desiredposition upon the dock.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. scope of the appendedclaims theinvention maybe practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed.

The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United Statesof America for governmental purposeswithout thepay-- ment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United Statesis:

1. In apparatus for beaching a seaplane having a. cablehook attached tothe underside'thereof, in combination,

a pair of adjustable winches spaced apart" a predeter-- mined distance,a pair of floating buoys located: a predetermined distance from saidwinches and spaced apart a predetermined distance, a pair of pulleyssupported by said pair of buoys respectively, a cableextendingrbeztweensaid pulleys and having the two ends thereof attached to said pair ofadjustable winches respectively: whereby the cable may be lengthened andshortened se:- lectively in accordance with. the adjustment of. saidwinches a cable hook adapted for dependent'positioning from the keel ofsaid seaplane, said cable being adapted to be engaged automatically,andheld by said cable book, a pair of substantially parallel fingerpiers located in. predetermined position with respect to said cable andwinches, said finger piers being spaced apart a predetermined distanceto receive the body of said. seaplane, a sloping underwater trackextending between saidfinger. piers, a ramp car movable upon said track,a cradle carv mounted upon said ramp car and having wheels adapted tomove upon said track, and cable means for attachment to. said seaplaneand ramp car, said winches, cable, and cable means for positioning saidseaplane and cradle car in a manner such that said seaplane may. come,to rest in proper position upon said cradle car said. cable meansincluding a winch, a first cable connectable. between said winch andseaplane, and a second cableconnectable between said car and a point onsaidfirst cable, the length of said second cable exceeding that of thesection of said first cable between the point of seaplane attachment andthe point of connectionto saidsecond cable.

2. In seaplane beaching apparatus for use with a seaplane having apickup. hook attached to the undersidethereof, in combination, beachingmeans including a.- track. and car movable upon said track, stoppingmeans for guiding and stopping the forward motion of the seaplane andplacing the seaplane in a predetermined manner on said car, andpositioning means for moving the seaplane to a beached position afterstoppage and placement. on said car, said stopping means including apairof adjustable winches, water buoyant means, cable guides mounted on saidbuoyant means, a cable attached. at its ends to said winches andextending through said cable It is therefore to be understood thatwithinthe.

guides, and a pickup hook depending from said seaplane adapted to engageautomatically said cable between said guides on movement of saidseaplane toward said cradle means, and said positioning means includinga winch and a divided cable connecting said winch, car and seaplane.

3. In seaplane beaching apparatus for use with a seaplane having apickup hook attached to the underside thereof, in combination, beachingmeans including a pair of finger piers, a sloping submerged trackextending between said finger piers, a ramp car movable upon said track,a cradle car mounted upon said ramp car, for guiding and stopping theforward motion of said seaplane and placing said plane in apredetermined manner on said cradle car, and positioning means formoving the seaplane to a beached position after stoppage and placementon said cradle car said stopping means including a pair of adjustableWinches, a plurality of water buoyant supports, cable guides mounted onsaid supports, a cable extending between said winches and passingthrough said guides, a pickup hook depending from said seaplane adaptedto engage automatically said cable between said guides on movement ofsaid seaplane toward said cradle car, and means for releasing said hookon positioning of said seaplane over said cradle, and said seaplanepositioning means including a winch and an additional cable connectingsaid winch to each of said seaplane and ramp car.

4. In seaplane beaching apparatus for use with a seaplane having apickup hook attached to the underside thereof, in combination, beachingmeans including a track and cradle car movable upon said track, a pairof adjustable winches, a cable having the ends thereof attached to saidpair of winches respectively, buoy means for supporting said cableadjacent the sea surface, stopping means for said seaplane including apickup hook depending from said seaplane adapted to engage automaticallysaid cable on movement of said seaplane toward said cradle car andpositioning means for said seaplane including a winch, and a cableconnecting said winch to said car and seaplane whereby the forwardmotion of said seaplane is guided and halted and said seaplane ispositioned with respect to said cradle car.

5. In seaplane beaching apparatus for use with a seaplane having apickup hook attached to the underside thereof, in combination, beachingmeans including a pair of finger piers, a sloping track extendingbetween said finger piers, a ramp car movable upon said track, a cradlecar mounted upon said ramp car, means including a pair of adjustablewinches, a cable having the ends, thereof attached to said pair ofwinches respectively, buoy means for supporting said cable, near the seasurface, a pickup hook depending from said seaplane adapted to engageautomatically said cable on movement of said seaplane toward saidcradle, means for releasing said pickup hook, and cable means includinga winch and a second cable joining the winch to said ramp car andseaplane for positioning said seaplane for engagement with said cradlecar whereby the forward motion of said seaplane is guided and stoppedand the seaplane positioned with respect to said cradle car.

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